New satellite imagery has revealed that Iran has fortified the entrances to tunnels at Pickaxe Mountain, a site linked to its nuclear program. This development comes as Donald Trump warns Tehran against any provocative actions. The site, located near the Natanz nuclear complex, has been a focal point of international scrutiny and potential military action by the United States.
The Institute for Science and International Security released a report on Thursday detailing the satellite images from September 11. These images show that earthen roadblocks remain on roads leading to the western tunnel portals of Pickaxe Mountain. The institute suggests that these measures indicate the facility is not in normal operation, although valuable equipment or materials are likely stored inside.
Additional soil has been placed over one of the western tunnel portals and a nearby cluster of entrances, initially constructed in 2007. This added earth is believed to enhance protection against aerial attacks. The timing of these fortifications coincides with Trump's recent warnings about potential U. S. military action if Iran continues its nuclear activities.
In a statement last week, Trump cautioned Iran against any 'cute' maneuvers at Pickaxe Mountain, emphasizing that the U. S. is closely monitoring the site. He reiterated the possibility of a military strike if diplomatic efforts fail, a stance he has maintained in previous public statements.
Pickaxe Mountain, situated approximately two kilometers from Natanz, features multiple tunnel entrances leading into a deeply buried complex. Construction on this site began in 2020 after sabotage at an advanced centrifuge assembly facility at Natanz. Iranian officials have indicated that the site is intended for advanced centrifuge production, although they deny any nuclear activity there.
Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted that the opportunity for a straightforward strike on Pickaxe Mountain may have passed. He explained that the facility is buried several times deeper than Fordow, another well-known Iranian nuclear site. However, he suggested that the U. S. still has military options, such as targeting the entrances to the underground complex.
While the U. S. contemplates its next steps, Iran is also advancing its military infrastructure elsewhere. The institute's report highlighted reconstruction efforts at Taleghan 2, part of the Parchin military complex southeast of Tehran. Satellite images from September 13 show Iran has erected a tarp over the site, obscuring work from aerial observation, and new concrete reinforcements are being added.
UN Security Council Tensions
Amid these developments, tensions flared at the United Nations. On Thursday, Russia and China vetoed a U. S.-drafted Security Council resolution aimed at extending the mandate of the Panel of Experts supporting the 1737 Iran Sanctions Committee. The resolution, which sought to continue international monitoring of sanctions on Tehran, received 11 votes in favor, with Pakistan and Somalia abstaining.
The veto reflects a broader disagreement over the legal status of UN sanctions on Iran, which were initially suspended under the 2015 nuclear agreement. While most Council members believe the sanctions were legally restored through a 'snapback' mechanism, Russia and China dispute this interpretation.
U. S. Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, asserted that the sanctions are legally in place and emphasized the importance of the expert panel in preventing sanctioned entities from evading restrictions. Waltz reiterated the international community's stance that Iran must not develop nuclear weapons.
Thursday also saw the release of a report by an independent UN fact-finding mission, which found reasonable grounds to believe that Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity during their crackdown on anti-government protests. These findings, however, are investigative and do not carry judicial weight.
